When you start talking about Brighton’s live music scene one band keeps getting mentioned time and time again. That band is Merlin Tonto. Considering that they make music that encompasses elements of Vangelis, Holy Fuck, Can and Socrates, prog-inspired rock with dance elements, you’d be forgiven for thinking it would all be a bit static live. Far from it! Their live sets are bombastic exercises in sound and vision.

This week sees the release of their new EP Baotou. Following on from 2014’s Tano Dragon, Baotou is another excursion to the place where analogue synths meet with surging bass riffs and careening beats. The band managed to find time in their busy schedule to answer a few questions about the EP and their thoughts on Brighton’s vibrant live scene.

Are you more looking forward to the EP coming out or playing the songs live?
Definitely, we've actually been playing the majority of the EP for the best part of a year but we are looking forward to playing it to more people who haven't heard us before.

What is the difference between this EP and your last?
The first EP was a learning process, I think we've expanded our sound and have now settled for a sound which we are all happy with.

What are these songs about?
The EP title is named after an industrial city in Inner Mongolia which has this huge man made toxic polluted lake, a by-product of all the industrial activity in the area. Apparently it’s created this dystopian, almost alien like environment which we thought really conveyed the sound and imagery of the EP.

What would you say are your main influences?
A wide range of influences including current electronic music producers such as Luke Abbot, James Holden but also Krautrock bands such as Neu, Can, Cluster, and Harmonia.

Do you find your influences creeping into the music you make?
Inevitably this does happen but it is also important to stamp your own identity on your sound.

How would you describe your music?
An atmospheric and hypnotic journey.

Where do you record?
We previously had a studio built by a friend and shared it with a few bands, Baotou was recorded there.

Do you have any rituals before recording, during and after?
Not really, the first EP was recorded in one day and was quite an organic process with some tracks that were made up on the day. Baotou was a planned out in a bit of detail and was far less ad hoc.

What's the best show you've played so far and why?
We've been lucky to play shows with bands such as Errors, Esben and the Witch and Follakzoid but actually some of the best shows have been in small intimate venues such as Fitzherberts pub, playing with various friend’s bands.

What artists or albums are you listening to at the moment?
Currently, Tim Hecker, Moderat, Floating Points, Mark Pritchard and of course Radiohead to name a few.

How do you find Brighton’s scene at the moment?
Not sure there is a definite scene that we are aware of. There has always been such a rich tapestry of music in the city.

Who do you enjoy seeing/playing with?
There are some exciting new acts such as Inwards, Eva Bowan, Dog in Snow, Lower Slaughter, Nature Channel, Native Ray and Septillion J. are exciting electronic-based acts who will be supporting us at Thursday's launch show.

What else does 2016 have in store for you? Any plans to release more music?
The plan is to carry on writing more music with a view to releasing a full album and play more shows outside of Brighton.